Betsy Ross House

Melissa Menkeng had picked out her special dress - white and frilly, with black trim - for the ceremony, which was held Sunday in the muggy shade of the Betsy Ross House courtyard. Sitting in the front row, the sixth grader nervously twirled a small American flag while she waited, one of 13 children from different countries who would become U.S. citizens. The half-hour ceremony was part of "Let Freedom Ring" events to celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and was sponsored by the American Flag House and Betsy Ross Memorial and by the Flag House Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Betsy Ross has been making the rounds this spring, charming travel agents at the Greenbrier resort in West Virginia, chatting up the morning guys at WIP-AM, training for the Market Street Mile. It's no wonder that Betsy - actually city tourism official Karen Butler and 30 pounds of floral Colonial garb - has been on the road so much. Philadelphia's legendary flag maker is homeless. The Betsy Ross House was supposed to be closed during January for renovations. That's what the city said in a news release.

Charles H. Weisgerber Jr. wants to give something away. But first he needs $25,000. Weisgerber wants to donate his grandfather's famous oil painting, Birth of Our Nation's Flag, to the Betsy Ross House. The 9-by-12-foot canvas depicts Betsy Ross showing a newly sewn 13-star American flag to George Washington. But the century-old canvas is rolled up and has been in temperature-controlled storage in South Jersey for more than 30 years. It needs major repairs. On Monday, Weisgerber plans to meet with Arthur Hoist, executive director of the Betsy Ross House, to discuss his hopes for the painting.

Philadelphia police and the city inspector general's office are investigating the disappearance of four historically valuable artifacts from the Betsy Ross House, the Daily News has learned. Investigators from the inspector general's office will also examine financial controls and care of the collection and archives at the national landmark after questions arose about the handling of cash and when some historical artifacts were discovered in damaged or deteriorated condition. Among the items reported missing to police are a 19th century crystal vase and a gold sewing thimble donated to the house by Betsy Ross's descendants.

Philadelphia schoolchildren show off Old Glory. The flags were distributed yesterday during ceremonies commemorating Flag Day at the Betsy Ross House, 239 Arch St. in Old City.

Although worn and faded, the largest 13-star American flag in existence makes an impressive final showing. The 25-by-45-foot banner snapped, rippled and thundered on the side of the building next door to the Betsy Ross House yesterday. After seven years of use, it will be replaced on Flag Day, June 14.

Your cover story (May 2) on damaged artifacts and neglect is only the latest in a series of disturbing stories about management of the Betsy Ross House. It is becoming apparent that Joe Vignola has turned this national treasure into a cheesy little political fiefdom. Ed Rendell must bear some responsibility, as well, although it's never clear just what his behind-the- scenes role is. It can't be hard to locate a competent professional who'd jump at the chance to manage a museum known to every American schoolchild.

Hundreds of children, waving replicas of the first U.S. flag, gathered yesterday for the 96th annual Flag Day ceremonies at the Betsy Ross House, where the 13-star banner was created 218 years ago. The Revolutionary War seamstress is said to have made the flag on instructions from George Washington. Ten-year-old Roland Gaithright of Philadelphia summed up the flag's importance. "It stands for a great country," he said. "And the stars stand for each state, and that's important because it includes everybody.

On a day of solemn reflection on the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks, groups large and small gathered across the region to share expressions of grief, sorrow, defiance, and patriotism. In Lower Makefield Township, several thousand assembled to remember the 18 from Bucks County who were among the 2,973 who died. On the Delaware River in Camden, the Battleship New Jersey fired an earsplitting salute. At the Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia, at churches and parks across the region, public officials, first responders, and survivors congregated to honor those who were lost, to remember a day they cannot forget.

Top Regional Attractions Academy of Natural Sciences 1900 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy.; 215-299-1000. www.ansp.org . A Many-Colored Glass: Ethereal Images of Microscopic Marine Life. Butterflies! $2 fee in addition to admission. Dinosaur Hall. The Florence R. Foerderer Live Animal Center. Outside-In. Egyptian Mummies. Living Downstream. Marveling at Mollusks. Science at the Academy. Naturalist Shows. Shell Show Preview Party. $150. 10/8. 6-9 pm. Philadelphia Shell Show & Festival.